by L. E. Wilson
“You’re quite correct, I would,” he acquiesced. “So, now what?”
She only smiled wistfully at him.
Bloody hell. That smile was even more worrisome than the happy one.
Chapter 18
Luukas
Once Nikulas left, Luukas went out to the other room to check on the witch. She was curled up on the couch, her dark hair spread out around her head like a halo.
She was his angel, but looks could be deceiving.
Rip her open! Suck her dry! Kill her! Burn her!
NO! Can’t hurt her!
Luukas pressed his palms to either side of his head and pressed, trying to contain the two sides warring within him. His emotions were riding a razor’s edge.
Part of him wanted nothing more than to destroy the fallen angel on his couch. It wanted to rip into her, slake his never-ending thirst, and throw what was left of her, piece by piece, off of the balcony to the street below to be set upon by the crows.
But the other part of him, ah…the other part, wanted to do nothing but hold her and make her his, wanted to love her and protect her from anything and anyone that may hurt a single hair on her lovely head.
Even if that someone was him.
Can’t hurt her.
Luukas lowered his arms as that side of him won, for now. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment, opening them again only to look around the room with wide, wary eyes.
His past life, before his imprisonment, felt almost like a dream. It was surreal to be back - surreal and a little bit frightening, if he was going to be honest. He was glad Nikulas was the only one here. Glad the others weren’t here to see him like this.
That was wrong, wasn’t it? To be glad something had happened to them?
He frowned in confusion. Not glad something had happened to them; just glad they weren’t here to witness his weakness. Hopefully, by the time they were found, he would be back to normal; or as back to normal as he would ever be again.
How could he ever go back to what he was?
But he had to; he was their Master, their maker. Not just to the council, the Hunters, but to all of the vampires in the area.
Did they even know what had happened to him? The civilians? He’d have to remember to ask Nik about that. They must. He didn’t see how his brother would’ve been able to hide it for so many years. How would they have explained his absence when his colony came to him to settle a dispute or ask for advice, as they so often did?
His heart sped up and sweat beaded on his brow as he thought of all of the responsibilities he would have again. As a Master vampire, he was responsible for hundreds of lives. Lives he’d created. Some of which had traveled with him overseas to start a new life here. They would all be looking to him to guide them, to protect them, to lead them.
Had they felt his pain, his hunger, his fear, while he was gone? Could they feel his panic now? He was a part of them as they were a part of him. Had they all suffered along with him?
He gulped in air as he fought his growing panic, his emotions flicking out from him like shots of electricity to rattle the lamps and the paintings on the walls. His eyes flew wildly around the room as memories, and the feelings they evoked, flooded his mind: memories of his past, memories of his torture, and the uncertainty of his future colliding inside of him, twisting around in his mind.
Slamming his trembling palms to either side of his head again as his heart pounded, he spun towards the windows, then back around, not knowing where to go to escape his own mind, until his eyes landed back on the small female asleep on his couch.
The witch.
The angel.
A calmness overtook him as he watched her sleep, focusing on her deep, even breaths. He matched his breathing to hers, everything else leaving his mind, as he unconsciously pulled his power back within himself.
He focused on nothing but her until the dawn beckoned him to join her in sleep. Lifting her up off of the couch, he carried her, blanket and all, into his room and laid her gently on the bed. Lying down beside her on top of the comforter, he covered them both with her blanket and pulled her in tight against him, her back to his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he breathed deeply, inhaling her scent, closed his eyes, and fell into a natural sleep for the first time in seven years.
Chapter 19
Keira
Keira slowly became aware of birds singing happily, and smiled slightly as she listened to them calling back and forth.
Gods, it was hot.
Wait. Hot? How could it be hot? It was always freezing cold in the bowels of the damn mountain. And where had the birds come from?
She cracked open her eyes. The shadows on the wall in front of her told her that the sun was just setting, and she was in a bed. A real bed! Turning her face, she breathed in the fresh, cool scent of the soft pillow her head was resting on.
As she attempted to roll over to shove her entire face into it, she became aware of a heavy arm wrapped around her middle, and warm breaths hitting the back of her neck.
Memories of the night before rapidly returned: She was in Luukas’ apartment, and this was his muscular arm wrapped around her middle.
She chewed her bottom lip, and tried to decide how to feel about that.
Other memories popped into her head. Luukas enraged with her, his hand wrapped around her neck while she struggled to breathe. Luukas drinking greedily at her throat, the sounds of his pleasure and the memory of him pulling at her vein making her muscles clench deep inside her core. Luukas pulling her down onto his lap, surging against her, pure lust heating her blood as he'd ordered her to come.
And, wow, had she ever. Of course, it'd been years since she had sex. No wonder it'd felt so good.
She reminded herself to breathe while she attempted to calm her fluttering heart. It wouldn’t do for him to wake and find her in such a state. There was no hiding these things from a vampire’s heightened senses.
She focused on the shadows moving across the wall and thought about absolutely nothing until her heartbeat returned to normal.
Wait a minute. The sun was just going down. How come he wasn’t a pile of cinders?
This was a vampire’s home; she guessed it would make sense to have it sun-proofed somehow.
In any case, much as she’d love to stay all snug and warm and sleep some more, nature was calling.
Inch by careful inch, she eased her way out from underneath his arm, managing to make it out of the bed without disturbing him.
Tiptoeing across the room, she opened the door that she assumed led to the bathroom. Instead she found rows and rows of clothing in a huge, walk-in closet; suits, shirts…even ties.
She imagined Luukas healthy and dressed in a designer suit. He would command the room, but he did that no matter what he was wearing. Still, the image brought an interested lift to her eyebrow, until her bladder urged her to quit fantasizing about a hot vampire, and find the damn bathroom already.
Closing the door again quietly, she found the bathroom and gratefully locked the door behind her.
Like the rest of the apartment, the bathroom was clean and modern. All pale blue and white, with dark walnut cabinets, a walnut and cream marbled counter with two sinks, and a tiled floor. It was similar to most apartment bathrooms, except for the tub and shower combo. The tub was oversized and deep, and every woman’s bubble bath dream.
Her blood heated up again as she remembered being in that bathtub.
Finishing her business, she gazed over at it with longing. Though she planned to take full advantage of that tub again someday, right now she could really go for another shower; a shower with scalding hot water and a brillo pad to wash with. Even then, she didn’t know if she’d ever feel really clean again after all of the years she’d spent in Leeha’s “guest quarters”. But she sure as hell planned on trying.
Mind made up, she turned the water on and stripped out of her oversized clothes. She pulled open the drawers, wondering if there were any�
��yes! A razor! She’d had just about all she could take of the hippie-chick look. Not that there was anything wrong with that. To each their own. The natural look just wasn't normally her thing.
Stepping into the tub, she sighed with pleasure as the steaming spray hit her, and for long moments, did nothing but enjoy the hot water pounding on her shoulders.
She wondered how long she was going to have to stay here. Even after her day’s sleep, she still felt run down. Maybe in another day or so, she could start thinking about heading home.
That is, if Luukas would let her leave. If what she’d guessed, and Nikulas had confirmed, was true, there’d be no leaving for her. Once a vampire had found their mate, only their blood would keep the vampire alive. Without their mate, they would die.
She sighed as she grabbed the shampoo bottle.
He was angry with her, more than angry with her, and with good reason. Honestly, she was shocked that she was still amongst the living. Of course, if he was capable of realizing the full implication of what she was to him, he had to keep her alive and well.
She didn’t deserve to be, and she wouldn’t hold it against him if and when he finally snapped and took his revenge, even though her reasons for doing what she did were sound.
Weren’t they?
Yes! Yes, of course they were. What was she supposed to have done when Leeha told her what she was meaning to do, and the consequences if she didn’t go along with it? Just let that stupid bitch kill her little sister? Her only family? Emma was innocent in all of this. As a matter of fact, she had no idea about any of it. She didn’t even know she was a witch!
Well, actually, she did now it seemed, thanks to Nikulas. But she had no idea about the history of their family, and why her parents had kept it hidden from her. She had no idea that her older sister has been practicing her entire life in secret, strengthening her magic. She had no idea her parents had been part of a powerful coven, or why her family had left the protection of that coven.
Their parents had kept Emma in the dark about it all to protect her, and Keira had agreed to keep the secret. Her little sister was everything in the world to her. She would die to protect her, and almost had a few times.
But now that she was out of that hellhole, she planned on making her way home to Emma, come hell or high water, if for no other reason than to talk her into moving out here so they could be together again. However, she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be easy.
Chewing her lip, she tried to come up with a plan while she scrubbed herself clean and shaved. Maybe she’d be able to talk to Luukas, tell him about her sister and what Leeha had threatened to do to her. Maybe he’d understand, like his brother. Leeha’s threats foremost in her mind, she was worried about what Emma would find upon arriving home. Surely Luukas would let her go.
She flashed back to his growled declaration once they’d been free of the tunnels: “The witch is MINE.”
Or, maybe not.
OK, on to plan B. She’d have to make her escape during the day, when Luukas wouldn’t be able to follow her. She’d need money for a plane ticket, and a way to get to the airport. That was her biggest obstacle right now, as far as she could see. Getting away would be relatively easy, as long as she could make it outside of the building and into the sunshine.
Piece of cake.
Turning off the water, she stepped out of the shower and dried off, putting Luukas’ clothes back on. Hunting around in the drawers again, she found a toothbrush and some toothpaste and brushed her teeth. Twice.
She almost felt human again.
Pulling her long, brown hair back, she braided the wet mass down her back and tied it with a rubber band she’d found. She really needed a haircut. The stuff had grown nearly halfway down her back while she’d been gone, and she hadn’t been allotted haircuts like Luukas. Apparently, Leeha hadn’t wanted him to get too uncivilized in appearance, so she’d sent in Josiah to trim him up occasionally and shave him every other day or so. He did so, grudgingly, and carelessly, and when the risk of Luukas waking up while it was happening was little to none.
Rolling her eyes at the absurdity of it, Keira turned off the light and eased the door open.
Luukas was still exactly where she had left him. Tiptoeing past the bed, she made her way out to the main room, closing the door behind her. She needed to eat, and find a phone to call her sister. She had to be worried sick. Even if Emma hadn’t made it home yet, she could leave a message on their home voicemail to warn her about Leeha, and let her know that she was okay and that she’d join her as soon as she was able.
She was glad Emma had actually listened to her and had left when she did. If she hadn’t, there was no telling what Luukas may have done to her. He’d been starved and tortured for years. He hadn’t been in his right mind.
She bit her lip as she wondered if his mind would ever be “right” again.
Turning on a few lamps to fend off the encroaching darkness, she made her way into the kitchen and found another apple in the fridge. Biting into it, she savored the juicy sweetness for a few seconds, and then began raiding the cupboards for more food. All she found were a couple of protein bars.
Grabbing two, she got some water and took her bounty over to one of the stools on the other side of the counter. While she ate, she planned, and by the time she’d finished, she knew what she was going to do.
Although she had a pretty good feeling that she would get no help from Luukas, his brother was a different story. She would ask Nikulas for the money for a plane ticket. A loan. She’d pay him back as soon as she got home, and could get to the bank. He would do it, if not for her, then for Emma. She’d seen the way he protected her. And she knew he had the money. They all did. Any vampire worth his salt that’d been alive as long as he had would have a small fortune stashed away by now. She’d just have to get him alone the next time he stopped by, as she was sure he would. It shouldn’t be too hard to maneuver a way to speak to him privately for a few seconds. That’s all she would need.
Finished with her meal, she threw away her trash and washed her hands. There was no phone in the kitchen, so she decided it was time to explore the place.
Heading in the opposite direction of the sleeping vampire, she gave herself a tour.
Peeking in the half-opened door on the other side of the apartment from the master bedroom, she found a guest bedroom. A quick perusal from the doorway didn't reveal any telephones, so she didn't go in to explore further. However, nestled in the corner of the living room opposite the living room was a glass walled office, if the desk and file cabinets were any indication. And if any room would have a phone, that one would, and...bingo! There it was: a cordless phone sitting right on top of the desk.
With a satisfied smile, she yanked it off of its holder and listened for a dial tone. Punching in the numbers she’d known by heart her entire life, she wandered over to the office window to watch the last rays of the sun disappear over the Sound while she waited for it to ring.
Halfway through the first ring, the phone was ripped from her hand.
“What the hell?” Spinning around she came face to face with a very large, very intimidating, very awake vampire.
“No phone.” He gritted out between clenched teeth.
Turning, he slammed the phone down on the edge of the desk, shattering it. Then, for good measure, he destroyed the cradle for it also, ripping its cord out of the wall and smashing that on the desk too.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and flew through the apartment at vamp speed, destroying the phones in both of the bedrooms.
Dammit. She should’ve looked in that spare room first. Maybe he wouldn’t have found her until after she’d gotten through.
Keira stood at the window where he’d left her, her eyes narrowed as she tried to track his movement throughout the apartment. Catching a blur of color going past the office doorway, she stomped after him. “I can’t even call my sister?”
He stopped abruptly, spinning
towards her so fast she collided with his wide chest. “No.”
“No-o?” she countered.
“NO.”
They stood at an impasse, black eyes glaring into hazel, until Keira finally took a step back, lifted her chin and crossed her arms defiantly.
“So, I’m not allowed to use the phone. Am I allowed to leave?”
His eyes widened fearfully and his breathing became shallow. “No.”
Keira observed his reaction with interest. This didn’t bode well.
“You can’t just keep me locked up here forever,” she told him.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “I think I can.”
“No, you can’t. You can’t watch me every single second, Luukas.”
The stubborn expression on his face told her he believed otherwise.
She sighed and dropped her hands to her sides. “Look. I am so, so sorry for everything you’ve gone through. Really, I am. And if there were any way at all that I could go back in time and figure out a way for what happened to not have happened, I would! But, I can’t.”
His upper lip lifted in a sneer as he leaned down into her face. “You are the reason it happened. You are the one who did those things to me. You, are not going anywhere until I decide what to do with you.”
His dark eyes smoldered into hers.
She could swear she felt them burning right through to her very soul.
“How could you do those things to me?” he asked, his voice husky with betrayal.
Tears filled Keira’s eyes and rolled down her face. She didn’t bother wiping them away. “She said she would kill my little sister if I didn’t do as she said.” Lifting her arms out to the sides, palms up, she tried to make him understand. “I had no choice…”
He barked out a harsh laugh. “Oh, you had a choice. You’re a powerful witch. You could have destroyed her easily, but you didn’t. Why not? If you’re so innocent?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I think you’re not so innocent. I think you were in on it with her the entire time. I think you still are.”